Like humans, pets also suffer from diseases and a loss of mobility caused by old age, but unlike humans, pets are unable to use wheelchairs, walking sticks and other aids to assist them with maintaining their mobility. It is for this reason that pet owners need to assist them with maintaining mobility as best as they can, to avoid the gradual decline that often results in pets needing to be put down.

Joint Care

As pets get older they may start to have issues with their joints and bone cartilage, which if left unaddressed can lead to them losing their mobility, and being unable to move about as they are used to. For animals, this can be devastating to their ability to perform everyday functions such as going to the toilet, exercising and eating meals. By the time you notice that your pet has started to have stiffness in its joints, it is a sign that its internal resources for combating the problem may have already become too depleted.

It is for this reason that it is important to supplement your pet’s diet with the relevant supplements earlier in life, to ensure that it has reserves for when it gets older. With ingredients such as shark cartilage, glucosamine, MSM and Vitamin C, many of these supplements will assist in maintaining your pet’s wellbeing before problems start to arise that affect its mobility.

Address Issues Early

As a caring pet owner, you have the opportunity to watch how your dog moves, and to note whether it appears to have issues with its posture and how it walks or stretches. Imbalances in any area can be caused by a variety of issues and, if left unaddressed, can lead to long-term problems. Weakening of the leg muscles and restricted or inflamed joints will be noticeable in the way the animal performs its regular functions, and can be addressed immediately to avoid further damage.

Noticing changes in how your dog moves could be a good indication that there is an issue that needs to be addressed, so seeking advice from a vet or other health care professional will assist in your pet maintaining its mobility for longer.

At Durack Pet Motel, we ensure that all pets have enough exercise and that they are monitored by our trained staff to check for any issues that may affect their current or long term mobility, as they grow older.